New development in Vietnam – Cambodia friendship and comprehensive cooperation

NDO - Vietnamese Party General Secretary and State President Nguyen Phu Trong has successfully concluded his State visit to the Kingdom of Cambodia, on February 25-26, at the invitation of King Norodom Sihamoni.

This was the first visit to Cambodia by Vietnamese top leader in his role as General Secretary and State President. It was an important political event, contributing to bringing the relationship of “good neighbourliness, traditional friendship and comprehensive, sustainable and long-term cooperation” between Vietnam and Cambodia into a new development to meet the aspirations of the two peoples.

Following the visit, the two countries issued a joint statement which noted that the two leaders shared the view that the safeguarding, preserving and development of the sound neighbourliness, traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation, and long-term sustainability, on the basis of the principles stated in the joint statement, are the common responsibilities of both nations and peoples, towards the two countries’ sustainable development and bright future, contributing to peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world.

Experiencing the ups and downs of history and events of the times, the good neighbourliness and traditional friendship between Vietnam and Cambodia, constantly nurtured by generations of leaders and people from the two countries, has been more steadfast, becoming an invaluable asset for the two nations.

The State visit to Cambodia by Party General Secretary and President Nguyen Phu Trong affirmed that Vietnam always attaches great importance and gives high priority to consolidating and strengthening Vietnam – Cambodia friendship and comprehensive cooperation in a deeper, more stable and sustainable manner as well as enhancing the trust and attachment between the Vietnamese Party and the Cambodian People's Party (CPP).

During his stay in Cambodia, Party General Secretary and President Nguyen Phu Trong held talks with Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni and visited Queen Mother Norodom Monineath Sihanouk.He also had separate meetings with President of the Cambodian Senate Samdech Say Chhum, President of the country's National Assembly Samdech Heng Samrin and Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen, who is also President of the CPP. He also visited Great Supreme Patriarch Tep Vong and Supreme Patriarch of the Dhammayuttika Nikaya order Bour Kry. Cambodian leaders and people gave a respectful and thoughtful reception to the Vietnamese top leader and high-ranking delegation, showing a deep solidarity and attachment between the two nations.

In the atmosphere of friendship, mutual understanding and trustduring their talks and meetings, leaders of the two countries informed each other of the situations in each country, deeply discussed issues of bilateral cooperation, and shared ideas on the regional and international issues of mutual concern.

Looking back at the development of the two countries’ relations over the past 50 years, the leaders expressed their pleasure to see that the Vietnam – Cambodia friendship and solidarity has been nurtured by the generations of leaders and peoples from the two nations, overcoming all challenges and gaining comprehensive andimportant achievements.

Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni expressed his deep gratitudeto the great and comprehensive support from Vietnamese Party, State and people to Cambodian people during the struggle for national liberation and escape from the disaster of genocide as well as in the period of national reconstruction and development. He also emphasised that the Vietnamese people are great, reliable friends of Cambodians, while affirming his determination to continue to nurture and promote the close-knit relations between the two nations.

For his part, Vietnamese Party General Secretary and President Nguyen Phu Trong extended his sincere thanks to King Norodom Sihamoni and late King Norodom Sihanouk, as well as generations of Cambodian leaders and people, for their valuable support to Vietnamese people during the fight for national independence and unification. The two leaders agreed that the protection, preservation and development of the Vietnam – Cambodia relationship are the common responsibilities of the two States and peoples, particularly younger generations.

The State visit to the Kingdom of Cambodia by Party General Secretary and President Nguyen Phu Trong has successfully wrapped up, writing new pages in the relations between the two countries. With a rich history of solidarity, attachment, support and sharing, it can be believed that the relationship of “good neighbourliness, traditional friendship and comprehensive, sustainable and long-term cooperation” between Vietnam and Cambodia will continue to achieve new developments, meeting the legitimate aspirations and interests of the two peoples for peace, stability, cooperation and development in Southeast Asia and the world.